Hinge and track engaging roller support for slidable closures



E. L. sTRouP G HINGE AND TRACK ENGAGING ROLLER SUPPORT April 28, 1959 Filed Sept. 26, 1957 FOR SLIDABLE CLOSURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Ec7r/ Ad-jf/Ulf BY April 28, 1959 E. STROUP 2,883,697 HINGE AND TRACK ENGAGING LLER SUPPORT FOR SLIDABLE CLO RES I Filed Sept. 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTOR.

ar/ L. dfroz m United States Patent HINGE AND TRACK ENGAGING ROLLER SUPPORT FOR SLIDABLE CLOSURES Earl L. Stroup, Hartford City, Ind., assignor to Overhead Door Corporation, Hartford City, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application September 26, 1957, Serial No. 686,397

8 Claims. (Cl. 16-97) This invention relates to hinges and roller supports for slidably mounted doors and .one particularly desirable for doors of the sectional upwardly acting type having tracks rearwardly inclined relative to the door frame or jamb.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a combined hinge and roller support for sectional doors of the type including tracks having rearwardly inclined upright sections which provide means for variably positioning the track engaging rollers to insure the closing of the door against the door jamb.

Second, to provide a combined hinge and roller support which permits a very substantial and quick and accurate adjustment of the roller support relative to the door.

Third, to provide a combined hinge and roller support having these advantages which may be economically produced of relatively light stock and at the same time is rigid and capable of sustaining loads presented thereto at varying angles.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical section of a door assembly embodying my invention on a line corresponding to line 11 of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary inside or rear elevational view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a disassembled or exploded view of the hinge members and the roller supporting bracket.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the spindle socket member.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated is in some respects an improvement upon the structure of my application for patent filed May 13, 1957, Serial No. 658,629. The structure disclosed in that application also includes combined hinge and roller spindle support elements.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents a door frame, 2 the sill thereof and 3 a jamb which desirably is resilient, but as the particular jamb forms no part of this invention the jamb is conventionally illustrated.

' The door is of the upwardly acting sectional type and comprises a top section 4, a bottom section 5, and a plurality of intermediate sections 6. The track includes rearwardly inclined upright sections 7 and rearwardly curved sections 8 merging into the upright section and into horizontal sections, not illustrated. This arrangement of tracks is old in the art, that is, tracks including rearwardly inclined upright sections, curved intermediate sections, and generally horizontal upper sections. The track supporting rollers 9 are provided with spindles 10,

the rollers being rotatably mounted on the spindles and desirably provided with roller bearings as indicated.

A main object of the invention is to provide a combined hinge and roller spindle support which may be quickly and easily adjusted to compensate for the inclination of the track and so that the door is urged against the jamb when the door is in closed position.

Another object is to provide .a combined hinge and roller spindle supporting bracket in which the roller supporting bracket element may be associated with the hinge or may be used independently thereof to support rollers adjacent the lower edge of the bottom door section and the upper edge of the top section.

The combined hinge and roller support in the embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises the combined leaf hinge members 11 and 12 having holes 13 therein adapted to receive attaching bolts 14. The hinge leaf member 11 is provided with laterally spaced knuckles 15 while the hinge leaf member 12 is provided with the hinge knuckle 16 adapted to be positioned between the knuckles 15 to receive the hinge pintle 17.

The adjustable roller spindle support of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises a holder member or bracket designated generally by the numeral 18, this being of inwardly facing channel section with the arms 19 and 20 thereof disposed in parallel relation. The arm 19 is provided with outturned pintle engaging knuckles 21 spaced to receive the hinge knuckles 21 spaced to receive the hinge knuckles between them as is shown in Fig. 4, the hinge pintle 17 engaging these knuckles 21. The other arm 20 of the bracket 18 is provided with a laterally projecting flange 22 adapted to be superimposed upon the hinge member 12 and has bolt holes 23 therein registering with bolt holes of the hinge member 12. The flange 22 has inwardly oflset edge portions 24 which engage the edges of the hinge member 12 so that in effect the torsional stresses on the bracket are sustained by all of the hinge attaching bolts.

Since it is desirable to make the parts of relatively light sheet metal stock, the bracket is reinforced by the laterally spaced ribs 25 which extend into the flange 22 and terminate adjacent the pintle engaging knuckle 21. The arm 19 of the bracket 18 is provided with a longitudinal slot 26 adapted to receive the bolt 27 for adjustably securing the pintle socket member 28 within the bracket. This pintle socket member is desirably formed of a strip of sheet metal having both side edges rolled to provide sockets 29 with which the roller spindle 10 may be selectively engaged. These sockets are in supported engagement with both arms of the bracket as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The bolt has a noncircular shank portion engaging the noncircular hole 30 in the socket member. The nut 31 is arranged on the outer side of the arm 19, the arm 20 having a hole 32 therein through which the bolt may be positioned. The bolt head is provided with a washer 34- while the nut is provided with a washer 35. To further support the socket member it is provided with laterally projecting flanges 36 on the end edges which engage the edges of the bracket arm 19. This coacts with the bolt in preventing any twisting movement of the socket member relative to the bracket.

The socket member is of substantially less width than the length of the bracket so that a very substantial range of adjustment for the roller spindle is provided, both as an incident to the adjustability of the socket member within the bracket and also that the socket member have two sockets with which the spindle may be engaged. This wide range of adjustment makes it practical to use one type of bracket, not only at the juncture of the door sections or in association with the hinges of the door sections, but also as supports for the rollers at the top of the upper section and the bottom of the lower section as illustrated in Fig. 1. This adjustment enables the proper positioning of the rollers for tracks having different angles of incination relative to the door jamb and substantially different spacing relative to the door jamb.

If desired all or certain of the hinges may be positioned so, that the roller spindles are positioned at the lower edge of the upper section of a pair instead of at the upper edge of a lower section of a pair. The spindles may be engaged with the spindle socket from either side thereof as illustrated in Fig. 2. This arrangement of parts permits the combined hinge and pintle supports being mounted upon the section Wherever is most convenient and adjusted at the place of installation to meet particular conditions and Without the aid of special tools.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments which I contemplate as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A combined hinge and roller spindle support for upwardly acting doors of the type including horizontally disposed sections and tracks including upright sections inclined rearwardly relative to the door frame, a track engaging roller provided with a spindle, a hinge comprising a pair of leaf hinge members provided with aligned knuckles and a coacting pintle, a spindle bracket member inwardly facing channel section having laterally spaced parallel arms and hinge pintle engaging knuckles on one arm thereof disposed at the outer sides of the pintle knuckles of said hinge, the other arm terminating in an outturncd flange disposed upon one of said hinge members and having inwardly offset side edge portions engaging the side edges of the hinge member on which the flange is disposed, said bracket member being provided with continuous laterally spaced ribs extending onto said flange thereof and terminating closely adjacent the said hinge pintle engaging knuckles of the bracket, the arm of the bracket provided with the knuckles having a longitudinal slot therein, a spindle socket member disposed within said bracket and having spindle sockets on both side edges thereof in supported engagement with both arms of the bracket, said socket member having outturned flanges on its end edges supportingly engaging the side edges of the said slotted arm of the bracket, a bolt disposed through and nonrotatably engaging said socket member and disposed through said slot in said bracket arm, and a nut for said bolt disposed on the outer side of the bracket member, said socket member being of substantially less width than the length of the bracket permitting substantial lateral adjustment thereof within the bracket, the roller spindle being selectively engageable with said sockets.

2. A combined hinge and roller spindle support for upwardly acting doors of the type including horizontally disposed sections and tracks including upright sections inclined rearwardly relative to the door frame, a track engaging roller provided with a spindle, a hinge comprising a pair of leaf hinge members provided with aligned knuckles and a coacting pintle, a spindle bracket member of inwardly facing channel section having laterally spaced parallel arms and hinge pintle engaging knuckles on one arm thereof disposed at the outer sides of the pintle knuckles of said hinge, the other arm terminating in an outturncd flange disposed and secured upon one of said hinge members, the arm of the bracket provided with the knuckles having a longitudinal slot therein, a spindle socket member disposed within said bracket and having spindle. sockets on both side edges thereof in supported engagement with both arms of the bracket, a bolt. disposed through and nonrotatably engaging said I port for track engaging roller provided with a spindle support comprising a pair of hinge members provided with a coacting pintle, a spindle bracket of inwardly face ing channel section having a hinge pintle engaging knuckle on one arm thereof, the other arm terminating in an attaching flange disposed and secured upon one of said hinge members, one arm of the bracket having a longitudinal slot therein, a spindle socket member disposed within said bracket and having spindle sockets on both side edges thereof, said socket member having outturncd flanges on its end edges supportingly engaging side edges of the bracket, and a bolt on said socket member disposed. through said slot in said bracket arm, and a nut for said," bolt disposed on the outer side of the bracket, said socket member being of substantially less width than the length of the bracket permitting substantial lateral adjustment thereof within the bracket, the roller spindle being selectively engageable with said sockets.

4. A combined hinge for sections of a door and support for track engaging roller provided with a spindle comprising a pair of hinge members provided with a coacting pintle, a spindle bracket of inwardly facing channel section having a hinge pintle engaging knuckle on one arm thereof, the other arm terminating in an attaching flange disposed and secured upon one of said hinge members, one arm of the bracket having a longitudinal slot.

therein, a spindle socket member disposed with said bracket and having spindle sockets on both side edges thereof, and a bolt on said socket member and disposed through said slot in said bracket arm said socket member being of substantially less width than the length of the bracket permitting substantial lateral adjustment thereof within the bracket, the roller spindle being selectively engageable with said sockets.

5. A support for a track engaging roller provided with a spindle comprising a spindle bracket member of inwardly facing channel section having laterally spaced parallel arm members provided with attaching means, one arm of the bracket having a longitudinal slot therein, a spindle socket member disposed within said bracket and having spindle sockets on both side edges thereof in supported engagement with both arms of the bracket, said socket member having outturncd flanges on its end edges supportingly engaging the side edges of the said slotted arms of the :bracket, a bolt disposed through and nonrotatably engaging said socket member and disposed through said slot in said bracket arm, and a nut for said nut disposed on the outer side of the bracket, said socket member being of substantially less width then the length of the bracket permitting substantial lateral adjustment thereof within the bracket, the roller spindle being .6160,,- tively engageable with said sockets.

6. A support for a track engaging roller provided with a spindle comprising a spindle bracket member of inwardly facing channel section having laterally spaced parallel,

arm members provided with attaching means, one arm ,of the bracket having a longitudinal slot therein, a spindle socket member disposed within said "bracket and having spindle sockets on both side edges thereof in supported engagement with both arms of the bracket, a bolt disposed through and nonrotatably engaging said socket member and disposed through said slot in said bracket arm, and a nut for said bolt disposed on the outer side.-

of the bracket, said socket member being of substantially less width than the length of the bracket permitting substantial lateral adjustment thereof with the bracket, the

roller spindle being selectively engageable with sai sockets.

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7. A support for the spindles of track supported rollers for sliding doors comprising a spindle bracket member adapted to be fixedly secured to a door and having spaced parallel side walls one of which is longitudinally slotted, a spindle socket member disposed within said bracket between said walls and having spindle sockets on both side edges thereof in slidably supported engagement with both of the walls of the bracket, the socket member having flanges on its end edges supportedly engaging side edges of the bracket member, a bolt disposed through and nonrotatably engaging the socket member and projecting through said slot in said bracket member, a nut for said bolt disposed on the outer side of the bracket member, the wall opposite the slotted wall having an opening therein through which said bolt may be inserted and removed, said socket member being of substantially less width than the length of the bracket walls permitting substantial lateral adjustment thereof between the bracket walls, the roller spindle being selectively engageable with said sockets.

8. A support for the spindles of track supported rollers for sliding doors comprising a spindle bracket member adapted to be fixedly secured to a door and having spaced parallel side walls, one of which is longitudinally slotted, a spindle socket member disposed within said bracket between said walls and having spindle sockets on both side edges thereof, a bolt disposed through and nonrotatably engaging the socket member and projecting through said slot in said bracket member, a nut for said bolt disposed on the outer side of the bracket member, said socket memher being of substantially less width than the length of the bracket walls permitting substantial lateral adjustment thereof between the bracket walls, the roller spindle being selectively engageable with said sockets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,857,756 Headley May 10, 1932 2,196,903 Rowe et a1. Apr. 9, 1940 2,525,309 Norberg Oct. 10, 1950 2,710,422 Nelson June 14, 1955 

